[Behavior of total serum cholesterol in aging rats in relation to food intake, weight development and mortality rate]

Rats (OFA - Sandoz) were kept under barrier conditions their whole lives in order to study the correlations between food intake, body weight, serum cholesterol and mortality rate. The cholesterol levels in males in the first life-half rose in correlation to food intake and body weight increase. In the second half, however, the cholesterol level increased again, whereas body weight and food intake decreased. The mortality rate rose, which was correlated to the second increase of the cholesterol level and the body weight loss (probit analysis). These findings were not made in females, which had lower food intake, body weight and cholesterol levels.